Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I am so excited to show you this week's project! With Christmas speeding toward us and company coming to visit, it may be the last Christmas project I get to do this year. But it’s extra special to me, because it’s a Nativity scene. I have started a small collection of Nativity scenes over the years. I usually get at least one new one every year, even if it’s just an ornament.But…on to my project…I don’t really have a tutorial on this, because it’s pretty basic and because I was so excited to get it put up that I forgot to take pictures along the way!

This is in a bay window in my home.

Materials you will need:

White bulletin board paper

black poster board

X-acto knife with extra blades

sample of nativity scene for reference

chalk

This project came to mind the other day as I remembered all the cool silhouettes that people had done at Halloween for their windows. However, this Nativity scene means so much more to me than any flurry of bats or jack-o-lanterns ever could.It reminds me of the very reason that we celebrate Christmas in the first place- the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the Christmas trees, the wreaths, the snowmen, the reindeer and Santa, but THE reason I celebrate Christmas is to remember the birth of Christ.For my silhouette, I just measured my window (I wish it did not have those grid thingies in it). I purchased the white bulletin board paper from a teachers’ supply store to fit the window. I got 4 sheets of thick black poster board and taped them together on the back. I took this image from my Silhouette downloads and printed it out on paper so I’d have a reference for my drawing.It would be a dream come true if the Silhouette would cut something this big! But alas I am happy with all the cool stuff it does cut :) Hubby and I tag teamed and drew this image free hand onto the large poster board with a pencil. We left out the star from the image above, because I thought it would be a pain to cut with an X-acto knife. So, I found another image in the Silhouette store with a different star and downloaded it.

Then I used my slice tool and detached the star and enlarged it in the Silhouette software and cut this simple star on black cardstock. After we were satisfied with the pencil drawing, I went over it with white crayon, so that I could see really well to make my cut outs. I should have used chalk, because I then had to go over some white crayon marks with a black paint pen when it was over. If you use chalk, it will wipe right off, duh!

Then I took a really large TV box that we keep in the attic and I used it as my “cutting table”. I laid out my poster board and went to work cutting out the silhouette of the Nativity. It was relatively easy, except for the parts where the poster board was doubled. I only broke one blade, but dulled 2 completely :) Thankfully, I had won a fabulous box of Elmer’s craft supplies from Lil Luna a couple of weeks ago, so I had a few X-acto knives on hand.

After I cut it all out, we mounted it to the window with thick sticky dots. We then taped the white paper up behind it. We took a desk lamp with a moveable “head” and pointed it to the window; turned out the lights; and ran outside to see how it turned out. I just love it!

I don’t have any lawn decorations and/or other outside décor except for my front porch. But this makes such a statement at night when it’s lit up for all to see. One more peek from a little further away.

Merry Christmas to you all, and may you be blessed as we celebrate His birth.

It's awesome! Way more sophisticated then my stenciled faux snow windows. YOU ARE GOOD! Thanks for leaving such a nice comment about my painted windows and mirrors and for sharing your project with me. I love it!

I'm impressed! We've looked high and low for nativity for outdoor viewing and there is very little out there. Yours seems more visible than the one we found that has a plastic frame and lights in it. Merry Christmas!!!

this is simply beautiful! i love it and i am going to have to create one -- i thank you so much for sharing and you made my day with your comment about the red cup -- i am in love with that project and as we well know our children learn from example and you are surely setting the best example ever -- like i said -- it will be the gift that they remember when they pass the charity once again when they have children! sending you tons of holiday hugs!!!! so happy to have you as a new follower and now i am hopping over and becoming your newest follower! wishing you and yours all the best!